Osun Election: Civic group raises alarm over violence, BVAS glitches

The Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness has expressed alarm over pre-election violence, inflammatory political rhetoric, and technical challenges with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) ahead of the Osun State governorship election. The organization, in a report dated August 12, 2026, reported a surge in registered voters, increasing from 1,954,800 to 2,339,233.

However, this growth is threatened by political tension, hate speech, electoral violence, and concerns over the reliability of election technology. The group's observers monitored INEC's mock accreditation exercise across 12 local government areas, noting that some BVAS devices experienced technical difficulties, such as failing to recognize voters' fingerprints, facial features, and Permanent Voter Card details.

The Centre urged INEC to resolve these technical issues and maintain strict neutrality throughout the electoral process. They also expressed concern over 40 reported deaths in pre-election-related violence and accused Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi of making inflammatory statements and mobilizing thugs and individuals posing as security personnel.

The Centre demanded an investigation into these allegations and prosecution of those found guilty, while also calling for increased security deployment in the six local government areas in Ijeshaland. They emphasized that the August 15, 2026, governorship election should be a contest of ballots, not bullets, and stressed the protection of lives and property as non-negotiable.